Rana Shabbir Sharif

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Major

Rana Shabbir Sharif

Shaheed
Nishan-e-Haider
Native name
Rana Shabbir Sharif[1]
Born 28 April 1943
Kunjah, Gujrat District, British Raj
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Okara District, Punjab, Pakistan
Allegiance  Pakistan
Service/branch  Pakistan Army
Years of service 1964–1971
Rank Major
Unit 6 Frontier Force Regiment 4 Frontier Force Regiment
Battles/wars Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Awards Nishan Haider Ribbon.gif Nishan-e-Haider
Sitara-i-Jur'at
Tamgha-i-Jang (1965 War)
Sword of Honour

Major Rana Shabbir Sharif,[2][1] also known as Shabbir Sharif Shaheed[1] (28 April 1943 – 6 December 1971), was a Pakistani Army officer. He is the only person ever who received both the Nishan-e-Haider and Sitara-e-Jurat for his bravery.[3][4] In addition, he is also a recipient of Sword of Honour and holds a unique honor of having received the three most coveted awards of Pakistan Army.[5] Rana Shabbir Sharif is regarded as the most decorated officer of Pakistan Army and often addressed as Army's Superman.[5] He is nephew of another Nishan-e-Haider holder Raja Aziz Bhatti.[6] Sharif is the elder brother of sitting Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan General Raheel Sharif. He has also been honoured with Tamgha-e-Jang during the Indo-Pak War of 1965.[5]

Early life and education

He was born on 28 April 1943 in a Punjabi Rajput family[2][1][6] at Kunjah, Gujrat District to Major Rana Muhammad Sharif.[7] Sharif Completed his Matric from St. Anthony's High School, Lahore and while he was at Government College Lahore that he received a call to join Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul.

Military career and death in action

He was commissioned in Pakistan Army on 19 April 1964 and after successfully completing his training, after which he was awarded the Sword of Honor, he was posted to the 6th Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment.

In the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Pakistan Army launched an offensive on the Western front against the enemy. Major Rana, as commander of a company of 6 Frontier Force Regiment, was ordered to capture high ground overlooking Grumukhi Khera and Beri, a village in the Sulemanki Sector.

He used to play squash and won Army level swimming medal while he was in 4th Frontier Force Regiment.

On 3 December 1971, in a well-organised action, he fought valiantly alongside his men and held Indian attacks at bay. He cleared the Jhangar post with utmost courage by fearlessly passing through the minefield laid by enemy and swimming across a water obstacle, the 'Sabuna distributary',whilst under intense enemy fire and led his company to capture the objective. During the day, his troops repelled over 15 Indian attempts to recapture the high ground and furthermore, he and his men destroyed four enemy tanks and held two Indian battalions at bay by killing 43 soldiers.[5]

During an attack on the night of 5 December, Major Shabbir jumped out of his trench on the call of an Indian Company Commander - Major Narain Singh of 4 Jat Regiment - who dared him for a hand-to-hand combat. Shabbir soon snatched the sten gun out of the Indian Major's hand and mortally wounded him. The gallant act demoralized the Indian troops allowing Shabbir's men to consolidate their hard earned gains in the captured area.[8]

On the afternoon of 6 Dec, the enemy launched another counter attack preceded by air strikes and heavy artillery shelling. After casualties amongst the crew, Rana Shabbir Sharif took over as a gunner on an anti-tank gun and started firing on the enemy tanks. While this fight was on, one of the enemy tanks fired at him causing fatal injuries which resulted in his death at the age of 28. His last words were quoted as: “Don’t lose the bridge.” It was the same bridge he died defending from the enemy’s attack. [5][9]

Family

His younger brother, General Raheel Sharif, became Chief of Army Staff, the highest rank in the Pakistan Army, in November 2013.[4] He is also the relative of another Nishan-e-Haider holder Raja Aziz Bhatti.[6]

Awards and decorations

Nishan-e-Haider Award Recipient
Nishan-i-Haider-PAK.jpg
Rana Shabbir Sharif was recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider Award[5]
Date 1971
Country Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Presented by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
Official website <strong%20class= "error"><span%20class="scribunto-error"%20id="mw-scribunto-error-1">Lua%20error%20in%20Module:Wikidata%20at%20line%20446:%20attempt%20to%20index%20field%20'wikibase'%20(a%20nil%20value). http://<strong%20class="error"><span%20class="scribunto-error"%20id="mw-scribunto-error-1">Lua%20error%20in%20Module:Wikidata%20at%20line%20446:%20attempt%20to%20index%20field%20'wikibase'%20(a%20nil%20value).

Other awards won by him are:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Samaa TV Shabbir Sharif Rana
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Rana_Shabbir_Sharif&oldid=2070493"